Belgian lawmakers scrutinize March 22 bombings and response

BRUSSELS – A Belgian parliamentary commission scrutinizing the March suicide bombings in Brussels and the official response is hearing about numerous communications glitches and the intense confusion sparked by unfounded rumors.

Jo Decuyper, chief of railway police for the Brussels region, told lawmakers Wednesday a national emergency communications network known as ASTRID didn't function well, and that some text messages he tried to transmit from his cellphone are still stuck in the "out" box.

Thirty-two people died in the March 22 attacks at Brussels Airport and in the Brussels subway. Decuyper told lawmakers that police commanders sent him an email shortly before the subway attack that ordered the Brussels Metro system temporarily shut down, but that he didn't get the message until later because it had been addressed to his personal account.